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King George V's commission to Sir Douglas Mawson to claim land in Antarctica
GEORGE, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, OF GREAT BRITAIN, IRELAND AND THE BRITISH DOMINIONS BEYOND THE SEAS KING, DEFENDER OF THE FAITH, EMPEROR OF INDIA, etc., etc., etc. TO ALL AND SINGULAR TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, GREETING!
Whereas We have judged it expedient to appoint a fit person to take possession in Our name, during the course of the expedition presently to be conducted to the Antarctic regions by Our Trusty and Well-beloved Sir Douglas Mawson, Knight Bachelor, Officer of Our Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, commanding the Royal Research Ship “Discovery”, of such territories now unknown as may be discovered in the course of the aforesaid expedition, and further of certain territories not under the sovereignty of any other State which have been discovered in the past by subjects of Our Royal Predecessors or of Ourself, to wit: (i) The outlying part of Coats Land, viz., the portion not comprised within the Falkland Islands Dependencies, (ii) Enderby Land, (iii) Kemp Land, (iv) Queen Mary Land,(v) The area which lies to the west of Adelie Land and which on its discovery by the Australian Antarctic Expedition in 1912 was denominated Wilkes Land, (vi) King George V. Land, (vii) Oates Land;
Now know Ye that We, reposing especial Trust and Confidence in the discretion and faithfulness of Our Trusty and Well-beloved Sir Douglas Mawson, Knight Bachelor, aforesaid, have nominated, constituted and appointed him to be Our Commissioner for the purpose aforesaid; hereby
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giving and granting unto him Full Power and Authority to do and perform, during the course of the aforesaid expedition, either himself or through such persons under his direction and authority as he may see fit to designate in writing for the purpose, all and every act and acts, thing and things, which he may lawfully do and perform for the fulfilment of the said purposes; whereof he shall give account to Us in due course.
In witness whereof We have caused Our Great Seal to be affixed to these Presents, which We have signed with Our Royal Hand.
Given at Our Court of Saint James, the Twenty-fifth day of July, in the Year of Our Lord, One Thousand Nine Hundred and Twenty-nine and in the Twentieth Year of our Reign.
